The Champions League quarter-finals (first leg) promise epic matches this weekend. This Friday, April 21, the Algerians of JS Kabylie open the ball against Espérance de Tunis. The next day, Saturday April 22, it was Wydad Casablanca – Simba SC clash at the Tanzania National Main Stadium. This match promises to be close between the two teams as the Tanzanians of Simba Sports aim for the feat. The other two fixtures are equally promising, with an Al Ahly – Raja Casablanca clash and a final game that will see Algeria’s Belouizdad and South African Mamelodi Sundowns face off.
Reigning African champion, the former team of Walid Regragui, Wydad Casablanca, which has known no less than four coaches since the start of the season, has somehow managed to stay in contention on all counts. Second in the Moroccan football championship (the Batola pro-1) just one point behind FAR Rabat (which is nevertheless having a great season and is in the running to win the Confederations Cup), the Casablancais, trained by the Spaniard Juan Carlos Garrido, reap the good results, although not always in a convincing way. In any case, they can count on their popular player, Bouly Sambou Junior, best in the Senegalese championship last season, author of 17 goals in 28 games this season.
Opposite, the Tanzanians of Simba SC collected only 9 points to reach the quarter-finals in Group C. Above all, the team is on its third coach of the season, the Brazilian Robertinho, who arrived in mid- season. However, his ideas are starting to produce some results after a difficult start (3-0 home defeat against Raja in particular). Victorious 7-0 against Horoya in the decisive match for qualification, Simba SC was able to regain confidence following this river score. To the point of winning the famous Dar Es Salam derby last weekend against Yanga SC, undefeated defending champions last season, and qualified for the quarter-finals of the CAF Cup. Although not among the favorites, the Tanzanians will be keen to have a successful home game for the return match, which promises to be difficult in an atmosphere that is still very special in the Stade Mohammed-V.
A revenge poster for Egyptian giants Al Ahly after last season’s final loss. Qualified in a decisive match against the Sudanese Al Hilal in a group that was however poorly embarked, the current leader of the Egyptian championship was able to count on his public to win. An asset that will be significant in view of a double confrontation that promises to be electric.
For his part, Raja Casablanca is trying to heal the wounds of the instability that has reigned within the club since the continental title of 2020 and the CAF Cup won. Despite finishing fifth in the domestic league, the club have put on an attractive face since the World Cup. A trend that was confirmed by a group stage easily dominated by the men of former Tunisian coach Mondher Kebaier, who arrived as a replacement for his legendary compatriot Faouzi Benzarti. However, faced with the frantic pace of the calendar, Raja do not seem able to win all their confrontations and have for example won only one of their last five league games, although they are still in contention in the European Cup. Throne and therefore in the African Cup. The Rajaoui club will certainly play a very large part of its season on this double confrontation against Al Ahly and given the scenario of last season (victory of Al Ahly 3-2 on the two legs), there is no doubt that the Moroccan giant is keen to catch up.
Alone in the world in their championship, with a thirteenth title validated seven days before the end of the PSL, the Mamelodi Sundowns are undoubtedly the African team of the moment. They may have never looked so strong since 2016, when Pitso Mosimane’s side won the Champions League. Guided by a young 36-year-old coach, Rhulani Mokwena, the South Africans combine tactical organization with polished and hard-hitting play, which has earned them outstanding performances, like this resounding 5-1 victory against Al Ahly in the phases of groups and domination over the two historical clubs of the national championship, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Facing CR Belouizdad, the best Algerian team for several years, the task does not look easy, however.
Constantly progressing and having been able to practically compete against Espérance de Tunis, the CRB accumulates experience on the African scene and remains a difficult team to maneuver, the first leg in Algiers will be an opportunity to demonstrate it. Finally, the confrontation that seems the most unbalanced on paper opposes Nabil Maaloul’s Espérance de Tunis, whose level has been quite difficult to situate since last year, and JS Kabylie. Surprisingly penultimate in the Algerian championship, despite qualifying at the expense of Petro Luanda, yet eagerly awaited this year, JSK is the big unknown in these quarter-finals. Following its elimination against a team from ES Sétif yet in great difficulty in the league last season, the Tunisians know what to expect to avoid a new African disillusionment. It will not be necessary to sin in the last gesture as was the case for the team then trained by Radhi Jaidi.
The shift schedule:
Friday, April 21
7:00 p.m.: JS Kabylie (Algeria) – ES Tunis (Tunisia)
Saturday April 22
1:00 p.m.: Simba SC (Tanzania) – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
7:00 p.m.: Al Ahly SC (Egypt) – Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
CR Belouizdad (Algeria)- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)